Women showcase artwork at exhibition

REDDISH-BASED gallery and arts centre Arc has launched an exhibition of artwork created by women of all backgrounds.

Cherish, a display of artwork exploring identity, created with artist Jasmine Walne by women connected with Arc, Stockport Women’s Centre and Manchester Bangladeshi Women’s Organisation, opened on Saturday, February 24.

In celebration of International Women’s Day last week, artistic director Jacqui Wood decided to launch a collaborative arts project between the groups in late 2017.

The Cherish project was designed to enable women from different communities and locations to connect, collaborate and share their experiences and stories through drawing, painting and mixed media.

The women took inspiration from a previous Arc exhibition, Indian Summer and explored their identities through objects they cherish.

In September 2017, funds were raised at Arc for an artist to work with the gallery’s partner organisation in India, called Roshni and testimony from the project is also part of the exhibition.

Lead artist Jasmine said: “The women have shared stories about themselves, their lives and what they hold closest, connecting with each other while doing so.

“Many of the women in each group didn’t know each other previously and the sessions have brought them together, allowing them to feel connected and part of a community.”

The pieces created by the women have been collated to form into large-scale works of art for the exhibition, which will run until Friday, April 20, in the gallery on Greg Street.

For more details, visit www.arc-centre.org.